Concentration of ores



Patentetl Dec. 2, 1930 high.

"UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Gnome n. moron, or mmmm, umn

commune-non or one Io Drawing.

included a preliminary step designed to place a sulfid film on the particles of oxidized minerals, followed by a similar flotation operation to that practiced on sulfid'ores. Sulfidizing operations are objectionable on many ores, because the tend to reduce silver extraction if enoug sulfidizing agent is added to insure high recovery of the base metals and a clean concentrate. Also, the consumption of the sulfidizing agent on ores containing ver much hydrated iron oxide is very 4 fiorts to float the oxidizing minerals without sulfidizing, by usin a reagent with a stron collecting action, li e oleic acid, re-- sult'in otation so"non-selective that good extraction and high grade concentrate are impossible to produce simultaneously.

The present invention i based on the discovery that a class ofcompounds formed by the reaction of amino compoundswith phosphorus entasulfid or with phosphorus pentasu, d and an alcohol are effective flotation agents, not only for the sulfid minerals, but also for theo 'dized minerals 0 gold, silver, lead and coxen Phosphoru enters .into and forms a part of such reaction prod- While all the reconstructed amino u'cts. compounds tried have shown the ability to float oxidized minerals, I have found the reaction products of phosphorus pentasulfid or '7 phosphorus pentasulfid and an alcohol with aniline, orthotoluidine and alpha na hthylamine respectively to give most satis actory I'GSllltS. v I

The reaction products of amino com unds with phosphorus pentasulfid are soli In flotation operations it is advantageous tohave the reagents in'a liquid condition in order '-that the may easily and accurately be added to the otatlon pulp. Consequently it becomes desirable to dissolve these, solidrreaction products in an organic solvent. In some cases it.may be preerable to dissolve the amino compound Application filed June 21,

in the solvent before REISSUED reacting it with phosphorus pentasulfid. It is also possible to obtain a liquid product by reacting a lar eexcess of a liquid amino compound with p osphorus pentasulfid. The reaction products of phosphorus pentasulfid and ammo compounds are described and specifically claimed in m co-pending application Serial No. 375,892, ed July 3,1929.

The reaction products of amino compounds, phosphorus' pentasulfid and an alcohol are sufliciently fluid for use as formed.

An of the alcohols may be used. I have foun amyl and butyl'to give particularly satisfactory results. v Any amino compound may be used. I have found aniline, ortho toluidine and alpha naphthylamine to give asatisfactory product..

A mixture of be used instead 0 phosphorus pentasulfid. I The reaction product of alpha naphthylamine, phosphorus pentasulfid'and butyl alc'ohol gives particularl good results on the ore with which I have heen working; It has desirable frothing properties, as well as marked collecting power for oxidized minerals.

' Following is a description of one method used in making a satisfactory compound for the purpose of floating-oxidized minerals: 17 .4 lb. of normal butyl alcohol',and 21.7 5 lb. alpha naphthylamine were placed in a IO-gal- Ion ice-cream freezer and the mixture agitated until solution was complete. Then 10.85 lb. phosphorus entasulfid was gradually added, while coldiwater was allowed to circulate around the revolvin inside cylinder. Agitation was continued or three hours after thelast of the phosphorus pentasulfid phosphorus and sulfur may Per cent Per Per y recoveries g Gold Silver cent cent Pb Fe so] Au Ag Pb 02.]!01: 0z./t0'n 01'0 100. 0 099 17. 02 20. 4. 6 55. 7 100 100 100 0011... 44.6 .18 34.3 43.7 2.8 18.250.389.994-1 Tall 55.4 .035 3.1 2.2 5.9|---.--ll9.210.1 5.9

Per cent sulfur in heads 1.31.

It willbe understood that the foregoing is only a single example ofrprocedure, and I do not wish the invention to be limited to this specific agent or method.

I claim:

1. The process of concentrating oxidized ores by froth flotation which comprises subjecting the ore in the form of a pulp to aflotw tion operation in the presence of the reaction product of an alcohol, an amino compound and phosphorus pentasulfid.

9. The process of concentrating oxidized ores by froth flotation which comprises subjecting the ore in the form of a pulp to a flotation operation in the presence of the reaction product of an alcohol, an aromatic glcpino compound and phosphorus pentasul- 1 0. The process of concentrating oxidized ores by froth flotation which comprises subjecting the ore in the form of a pulp to a flotation operation in the presence of the reaction product of an alcohol, alpha naphthylamine and phosphorus pentasulfid.

- In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 14; day of June, 1928.

. GEORGE E. WIGTON.

ores by froth flotation which comprises subje'cting the ore in the form of a pulp to a flotation operation in the presence of the reaction product. of an alcoholic. solution of alpha naphthylamine and phosphorus pentasulfid.

2. The process of concentrating oxidized ores by froth flotation which comprises subjecting the ore in the form of a pulp to a flotation operation in thepresence of the reaction product of an alcoholic solution of an amino compound and phosphorus pentasulfid.

3. An agent for use flotation comprising a the reaction product of an alcoholic solution of alpha naphthylamine and phosphorus pentasulfid. 4. An agent for use in flotation comprlsmg the reaction product of an alcoholic solution of an amino compound and phosphorus pentasulfid.

5. An agent for use in flotation, comprising the reaction product of an alcohol, an aromatic amino compound and phosphorus pentasulfid.

6. An agent for use in flotation, comprising the reaction product of an alcohol, an arcmaticamino compound, sulfur and phosphorus. 1 r 4 7 The process of concentrating ores by froth flotation which comprises subjecting the ore in the form of a pulp to 'a'flotation operation in the presence of the reaction product of an alcohol, an amino compound and phosphorus pentasulfid.

8. The process of concentrating oxidized 

